admin, Author at Dr. John Rosa

It’s Time To Stop Cultivating A Culture Of Chronic Pain Patients

By Dr. John Rosa

We’re addicted to masking the pain.

When you have a medical system that is as addicted to taking the easy way out by masking problems that cause pain instead of getting to the bottom of them and healing human pain and suffering, you create a cycle of addiction and a culture of chronic pain. That’s exactly the position we are in as a culture today.

Based on our current reimbursement systems, it’s easier for doctors to prescribe a pain pill than it is for them to prescribe a multi-disciplinary system of treatment that will actually get to the source of the pain and eliminate it. And, believe me, I am aware that this system is like a double-edged sword.

Patients just want to be pain-free.

The easiest way to do that instantly is to take opioids. But, the problems created by this seemingly instantly gratifying method are deadly and devastating. So, both patients and doctors are going to have to actively participate in ending this vicious cycle.

Educating both the doctors who are accustomed to working solo, and the patients who want the quickest relief to the fact that living pain-free requires more effort than popping a pill is without doubt going to be a difficult task. But it isn’t as difficult as it may seem.

Among the 14 Integrative Medical clinics I oversee, one is a free clinic. In this clinic alone, we have seen a 70% reduction in opioid prescriptions. Through the use of chiropractic, acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation and physical therapy, our patients live pain free and pill free. This is the future I see for our country.

If this is a vision you share and someone you love is dependent on or addicted to opioid drugs, please seek help before it’s too late. If you would like to learn more about the Opioid Crisis as it relates to awareness, prevention and treatment or schedule a corporate or organization seminar contact us at DrJohnRosa.com. Here you will learn how to connect with the leading experts on the crisis and how to help your community stay safe.

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Talks About A Holistic Approach To Pain Management Without Opioids

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker talks about his mission to educate and help relieve pain through an integrative approach without the use of opioids and shows the results of research that concludes prescribers, pharmacists and drug companies have allowed opioids to “fall in the hands of inappropriate patients.”

ROCKVILLE, MD. March 29, 2019: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crisis expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new article on his website entitled, “Decrease Pain, Increase Mobility, Limit Opioid Medications,” in which Dr. Rosa talks about the holistic approach he uses and teaches.

Dr. Rosa writes, “The title of this article is the holistic strategy used with patients who come to my chiropractic centers in pain.” He continues, “My goal is to educate patients, caregivers and anyone else who is interested, how to manage pain without the use of opioid medications.”

“I recently placed myself into a busy Primary Care medical practice,” says Dr. Rosa, “where we have been able to reduce opioid prescriptions by 70% through the integration of Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine.” He continues elaborating, “Some of the therapies and behavioral approaches include yoga, Acupuncture, massage, mindfulness and meditation, among others. This highly successful integrative approach clearly illustrates that we, as a society, do not need to be drug dependent to be pain-free.”

As Dr. Rosa points out, “Without question many people live with chronic, oftentimes debilitating pain. As a result of attempting to relieve this pain,” he states, “the pharmaceutical industry has created highly addictive medications. The medications do relieve the physical pain, but more often than not they lead to more severely painful problems such as addiction and death. And, importantly, they inhibit the body’s own healing wisdom.”

Dr. Rosa writes that, “integrative pain management is a process that requires more effort than merely popping a pill. However, long-term, this method allows the natural healing process of the body to work its wonders. The body’s ability to heal itself is nothing short of miraculous, but we have to give it the time it needs.”

Read the entire article at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/decrease-pain-increase-mobility-limit-opioid-medications/

About Dr. John P. Rosa

Dr. Rosa is the Owner/manager of 14 health clinics in the Baltimore/Washington DC metro areas concentrating on musculoskeletal injuries of acute, subacute and chronic nature. He oversees the Integrative Medicine practice group which includes general medicine, Chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine that sees over 60,000 patient visits per year.

Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating college, professional and Olympic athletes. Creator of 24/7 RnR (Relief and aiding Recovery) an FDA approved analgesic cream. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and clinic management.

Leader in Chiropractic

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years and serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board.

Opioid Crisis Expert:

White House Surrogate/Consultant
Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
Corporate and professional organization consultant
Currently forming the Opioid Abuse Prevention Institute

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

Board service to Maryland University of Integrative Health
Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and
behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
Expert/Speaker – educating primary care, urgent care and hospital medical staff on the
Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain patients

Decrease Pain, Increase Mobility, Limit Opioid Medications

By Dr. John Rosa

What if I told you that you could decrease pain without medication?

The title of this article is the holistic strategy used with patients who come to my chiropractic centers in pain. My goal is to educate patients, caregivers and anyone else who is interested, how to manage pain without the use of opioid medications.

I recently placed myself into a busy Primary Care medical practice where we have been able to reduce opioid prescriptions by 70% through the integration of Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine. Some of the therapies and behavioral approaches include yoga, Acupuncture, massage, mindfulness and meditation, among others. This highly successful integrative approach clearly illustrates that we, as a society, do not need to be drug dependent to be pain-free.

The Pain Is Real

Without question many people live with chronic, oftentimes debilitating pain. As a result of attempting to relieve this pain, the pharmaceutical industry has created highly addictive medications. The medications do relieve the physical pain, but more often than not they lead to more severely painful problems such as addiction and death. And, importantly, they inhibit the body’s own healing wisdom.

In addition, doctors and the pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to prevent the unnecessary use and abuse of opioid medications. In a recent article I read about some very recent research on the topic, “the researchers concluded that prescribers, pharmacists, drug companies and the FDA — all of whom had agreed to special rules and monitoring for use of the powerful opioid — had allowed it to fall into the hands of thousands of inappropriate patients. Over time, the FDA and drug companies became aware this was happening but took no action, the researchers found.” The research also stated that, “Using five years of insurance claims data, the researchers found that between 34.6 percent and 55.4 percent of patients shouldn’t have received the drugs.”

Integrative Pain Management

I’ll begin by saying that integrative pain management is a process that requires more effort than merely popping a pill. However, long-term, this method allows the natural healing process of the body to work its wonders. The body’s ability to heal itself is nothing short of miraculous, but we have to give it the time it needs. A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and musculoskeletal disorders will typically not satisfy most American’s desire for instant gratification, but it will lead to healing versus addiction.

Speaking Of Pain

In my quest to educate and help move our society away from the use and abuse of opioid drugs, I conduct events and speak to groups about the opioid epidemic and how we can help turn the tide of this devastating practice. Don’t get me wrong. There is a time and a place for the use of opioids, but those times and places are not widespread and do not call for widespread prescriptions. We, as a culture, must get over our insistence on instant gratification.

The most common pain related diagnosis is low back pain. The most common cause of disability is low back pain. The most common reason for prescription opioids is low back pain. And, the treatment that has the highest rate of success battling low back pain is Chiropractic. Funny…Chiropractic is the only physician in the medical world that NEVER prescribes medication, yet only 1% of medical doctors make referrals for the known cure. Now that’s painful!

National Expert on the Opioid Crisis and Best-Selling Author® Dr. John Rosa Chosen to Speak at the 2019 Medical Integration Convention

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert and owner of Accessible Beltway Clinics, will take the stage with other leaders in the chiropractic and integrative medicine field to share insights at the upcoming Medical Integration Convention in Orlando, Fl.

ROCKVILLE, MD. March 21, 2019: Best-selling Author®, Inspiring lecturer, consultant for the National Opioid Task Force and White House Surrogate for the Opioid Crisis, Dr. John Rosa will join other notable luminaries, including renowned speaker Grant Cardone and AMI founders Dr. Michael Carberry, DC and Coleen Carberry, PT, on the stage of the 2019 Medical Integration Convention held in Orlando, Fl. April 26th-27th.

Medical Integration Conference

Dr. Rosa is thrilled to have been chosen to share his expertise on battling the Opioid Crisis with his colleagues. He is especially excited to meet and hear from speaking legend Grant Cardone. Dr. Rosa elaborates, “Grant fought a battle with addiction to narcotics from 16 to 25 yrs old and speaks freely about his battle. He has chapters in his books and several posts and podcast speaking to his addiction.”

The Medical Integration Convention is for forward thinkers, trailblazers, entrepreneurs, business owners and anyone looking to set the tone by which we can revolutionize healthcare.

AMI clients represent the leading edge of healthcare practitioners and business owners – a group who refuses to accept an average practice, average patient result, average employees and an average life.

Twice a year AMI brings together the foremost experts in their fields to share information and strategies at our expanded seminar series that sets our practices apart from the rest.

Learn More About the Conference and Register Here: https://www.amidoctors.com/integrate2019/

About Dr. John P. Rosa

Leader in Chiropractic

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years and serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board.

Opioid Crisis Expert:

White House Surrogate/Consultant
Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
Corporate and professional organization consultant
Currently forming the Opioid Abuse Prevention Institute

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

Board service to Maryland University of Integrative Health
Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and
behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
Expert/Speaker – educating primary care, urgent care and hospital medical staff on the
Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain patients

Learn More About Dr. Rosa At: www.drjohnrosa.com

Connect with Dr. Rosa
Email: info@drjohnrosadev.wpengine.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJohnRosa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dr-john-rosa/
Twitter: @HealthyTweeter

National Opioid Crisis Expert, Dynamic Speaker And Author, Dr. John Rosa Tells Readers America Has Been Drugged And Duped

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert, author and dynamic speaker, gives readers a remarkable and shocking statistic that shows how Americans have been duped into thinking a highly addictive drug can cure pain and suffering.

ROCKVILLE, MD. March 18, 2019: Dr. John Rosa, dynamic speaker, national opioid crises expert, and co-author of The Recipe for Success with Jack Canfield, posted a new blog on his website entitled, “America Has Been Duped Into Believing Pills Can Cure Pain And Suffering.” Dr. Rosa turns his attention and guides his readers to the source of the duping.

Dr. Rosa states, “When I do speaking engagements, I like to grab my audience’s attention with a startling fact.” He adds, “The sad thing is that the same startling fact has been the same during all the years I’ve been traveling and speaking to corporations, organizations and groups.”

According to Dr. Rosa, the shocking fact is, “The U.S. is roughly 5% of the world population, yet we consume 90% of all the opioids in the world.”

“Think about that,” says Dr. Rosa. He adds, “This fact screams to me that, 1. The rest of the world has no pain, or 2. We’ve been duped. That’s right. We’ve been duped by a medical community that wants everyone to believe that pain can be relieved by taking a pill.”

“But, what about the rest of the world?” He asks, “Why aren’t they suffering?” He concludes, “They aren’t suffering because they do not turn to drugs for pain relief. They turn to the methods that have been used for thousands of years: acupuncture, diet, herbs, massage and other methods that our society considers “alternative”.” As Dr. Rosa points out, “The truth is that modern medicine is truly “alternative.” Traditional methods of healing have been suppressed and we as a society have been duped.”

Read the entire blog at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/america-has-been-duped-into-believing-pills-can-cure-pain-and-suffering/

About Dr. John P. Rosa

Leader in Chiropractic

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years and serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board.

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

Board service to Maryland University of Integrative Health
Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
Expert/Speaker – educating primary care, urgent care and hospital medical staff on the Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain patients

Opioid Crisis Expert:

White House Surrogate/Consultant
Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
Corporate and professional organization consultant
Currently forming the Opioid Abuse Prevention Institute

Community Leadership:

Board member of the National Italian American Foundation
Volunteer at Crossroads Freedom Center – a residential facility in Maryland to help overcome addiction

America Has Been Duped Into Believing Pills Can Cure Pain And Suffering

By Dr. John Rosa

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

When I do speaking engagements, I like to grab my audience’s attention with a startling fact.

The sad thing is that the same startling fact has been the same during all the years I’ve been traveling and speaking to corporations, organizations and groups.

Here’s the shocking fact. The U.S. is roughly 5% of the world population, yet we consume 90% of all the opioids in the world.

Think about that. This fact screams to me that, 1. The rest of the world has no pain, or 2. We’ve been duped. That’s right. We’ve been duped by a medical community that wants everyone to believe that pain can be relieved by taking a pill.

But, what about the rest of the world? Why aren’t they suffering? They aren’t suffering because they do not turn to drugs for pain relief. They turn to the methods that have been used for thousands of years: acupuncture, diet, herbs, massage and other methods that our society considers “alternative.” The truth is that modern medicine is truly “alternative.” Traditional methods of healing have been suppressed and we as a society have been duped.

As a result we are now dealing with more suffering.

There have been 115 deaths a day on average since 2014 due to opioid addiction. 80% of people suffering from an addiction to heroin started with a prescription for an opioid pain reliever.

I’m an upstream kind of guy. We are all aware of the problem of opioid addiction. It’s making headlines and our loved ones are dying needlessly. But, are we aware of what we can do to prevent opioid addiction? My answer to that is a definitive no. And it is my mission to change that.

If you, or someone you love is dependent on or addicted to opioid drugs, please seek help before it’s too late. If you would like to learn more about the Opioid Crisis as it relates to awareness, prevention and treatment or schedule a corporate or organization seminar contact us at DrJohnRosa.com. Here you will learn how to connect you, your company or organization with the leading experts on the crisis and how to help your community stay safe.

Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seaman Featured on A&E TV

Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seaman were recently seen on Bravo and A&E in major markets coast to coast as a guest on Hollywood Live.

Darnestown, MD – March 7, 2019 – Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seaman were recently featured guests on Hollywood Live. The show, which filmed at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California by an Emmy Award winning crew, was hosted by Jack Canfield, Best-Selling Author® and co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The show included guests from around the country who shared their expertise and stories of their success. Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seaman were a guests on the show.

Dr. John Rosa discussed the overwhelming Opioid crisis and how pain has lead into overprescribing, and how this crisis can be solved with integrative medicine along with nutrition, diet and topical analgesics. Adding to the message of Dr. John Rosa, Dr. David Seaman discussed his practice of the DeFlame diet and other methods of managing that pain and chronic inflammation, instead of using prescribed opioid medications, by treating the root cause of the pain.

Hollywood Live, filmed in Los Angeles, is produced by The Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency^®. The episode featuring Dr. Rosa and Dr. Seaman recently aired on Bravo and A&E in major markets coast to coast.

About Dr. John Rosa:

Dr. John Rosa owns and supervises Accessible Beltway Clinics, which is comprised of 16 clinics in Maryland and Virginia, combining medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture and behavioral medicine to give a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to pain syndromes and musculoskeletal disorders.

Active in sports medicine with consulting/treating athletes in several universities, NBA, MLB, NHL and USA Olympic Basketball. Creator of 24/7 RnR an FDA approved analgesic cream; a proprietary blend of the most potent materials resulting in the most effective product on the market for pain Relief and aiding Recovery. Founder of Accessible Wellness Solutions – an onsite corporate wellness program offering consulting, lectures and management of onsite clinics.

Dr. Rosa has made it his mission to make a difference in the national Opioid Crisis and is a consultant to the White House, Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal. Currently co-producing PSA music and cinema projects by partnering with Hollywood and the Music Industry.

About Dr. David Seaman:

Dr. David Seaman has been writing about chronic inflammation for 25 years. He wrote the first published scientific article about how diet can induce inflammation and promote pain. His articles about pain, inflammation, diet, and obesity have been referenced by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Harvard Medical School and many other universities in the United States, as well as universities in Canada, Brazil, Europe, Middle East, India, Australia, Russia, and other Asian countries.

In 2016, Dr. Seaman wrote a book for the general public entitled The DeFlame Diet. The focus of this book is how to measure and reduce chronic inflammation through dietary means. It is the most detailed book on this topic that is written for the general public. If you want a simple approach to diet, the DeFlame approach is the way to go.

In 2018, he published Weight Loss Secrets You Need To Know, which is available for as little as .99 cents as aKindle book. This new book outlines the many societal, sensory, emotional, physiological, and primordial drives that promote weight gain and obesity. Without understanding the power of these non-food factors related to obesity, it is virtually impossible to management weight properly in the long term. Obesity is a health menace and this book offers a strategy for maintaining proper weight for a lifetime.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. John Rosa his services, or connect with him at: Drjohnrosa.com

If you would like to learn more about Dr. David Seaman and his services, or connect with him at: DeFlame.com

###

Contact:

Carri Bright

Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency®

Carri@dnagency.com

Opioid Crisis Expert and Owner of Accessible Beltway Clinics, Dr. John Rosa Questions The Benefits Of Seeing Addicts Overdosing On TV News And Social Media

Dr. John P. Rosa, opioid crisis expert and owner of Accessible Beltway Clinics, talks about how law enforcement agents as well as complete strangers are capturing overdoses on cameras and posting to social media and news stations and wonders whether the effects are doing anything to bring the epidemic to an end.

ROCKVILLE, MD. March 4, 2019: Owner of Accessible Beltway Clinics and opioid crises expert, Dr. John Rosa, posted a new article on his website entitled, “The Opioid Crisis Goes Live On TV And Social Media,” in which Dr. Rosa questions whether this new trend is helping or hurting the opioid crisis.

Dr. Rosa states that, “More and more law enforcement offices throughout the country are wearing body cameras and capturing people overdosing live.” He continues adding, “These videos are ending up on local as well as national news shows and are going viral on social media. For some, this publicity comes as a wake-up call. – maybe not so welcome, but a wake-up call nonetheless.” “For others,” says Dr. Rosa, “this kind of unexpected publicity presents just another harsh episode in an already untenable life. But, with the opioid crisis continuing to grow and the prevalence of video equipped smart phones and the popularity of social media, “ he says, “we can expect the coverage and the humiliation to continue.”

“Imagine seeing your mom or dad, your brother or sister, your son or daughter or someone you know and love on the evening news, passed on, overdosed and possibly even dying right before your eyes,” says Dr. Rosa. He adds, “Imagine not knowing and finding out this way that your loved one is doing drugs. That is the case in some instances. Imagine seeing yourself this way.”

Dr. Rosa talks about a series in The New York Times, called Hooked In America. Dr. Rosa says in the article, “it was stated that not only law enforcement but also “strangers with cameras have started posting raw, uncensored images of drug users passed out with needles in their arms and babies in the back seats of their cars The videos rack up millions of views and unleash avalanches of outrage.””

According to Dr. Rosa, “Without question public humiliation has its effect on the addicted exposed on TV and/or social media. But, whether the effect is positive or not is the debate. By filming the overdoses and sending them to the news media, police departments say they are simply trying to reveal the brutal reality of what they see every day.” Dr. Rosa also states, “This is all wrong and only fuels the flames of stigma. Most people will view these videos and say, “look at what these people are doing to themselves.” My dream with every fiber of my heart and soul is to have people see such videos and say, “Look at what we did to you all.”

Read the entire article at http://glt.kji.mybluehost.me/the-opioid-crisis-goes-live-on-tv-and-social-media/

About John P. Rosa

Leader in Chiropractic

Trustee of New York Chiropractic College for over 15 years and serving final 3-year term as Chairman of the Board.

Integrative Medicine Specialist:

Board service to Maryland University of Integrative Health
Consultant on Integrative Medicine to hospital cancer center
Reduced opioid prescriptions by 70% by integrating Chiropractic, physical therapy and behavioral medicine in a primary care setting
Expert/Speaker – educating primary care, urgent care and hospital medical staff on the Integrative Medicine approach to treating pain patients

Opioid Crisis Expert:

White House Surrogate/Consultant
Law Enforcement Consultant (Homeland Security, CBP, DOJ, DEA and Postal)
State and National Consultant to Opioid Task Forces
Corporate and professional organization consultant
Currently forming the Opioid Abuse Prevention Institute

Community Leadership:

Board member of the National Italian American Foundation
Volunteer at Crossroads Freedom Center – a residential facility in Maryland to help overcome addiction

Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seaman Featured on Bravo TV

Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seaman were recently seen on Bravo and A&E in major markets coast to coast as a guest on Hollywood Live.

Darnestown, MD – Feb 27, 2019 – Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seaman were recently featured guests on Hollywood Live. The show, which filmed at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California by an Emmy Award winning crew, was hosted by Jack Canfield, Best-Selling Author® and co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The show included guests from around the country who shared their expertise and stories of their success. Dr. John Rosa and Dr. David Seamanwere a guests on the show. Dr. John Rosa discussed the overwhelming Opioid crisis and how pain has lead into overprescribing, and how this crisis can be solved with integrative medicine along with nutrition, diet and topical analgesics. Adding to the message of Dr. John Rosa,Dr. David Seaman discussed his practice of the DeFlame diet and other methods of managing that pain and chronic inflammation, instead of using prescribed opioid medications, by treating the root cause of the pain.

About Dr. John Rosa:

About Dr. David Seaman:

If you would like to learn more about Dr. John Rosa his services, or connect with him at: Drjohnrosa.com

If you would like to learn more about Dr. David Seaman and his services, or connect with him at: DeFlame.com

###

Contact:

Christine Enberg

Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency®

Christine@dnagency.com

The Opioid Crisis Goes Live On TV And Social Media

By Dr. John Rosa

More and more law enforcement offices throughout the country are wearing body cameras and capturing people overdosing live.

These videos are ending up on local as well as national news shows and are going viral on social media. For some, this publicity comes as a wake-up call. – maybe not so welcome, but a wake-up call nonetheless. For others, this kind of unexpected publicity presents just another harsh episode in an already untenable life. But, with the opioid crisis continuing to grow and the prevalence of video equipped smart phones and the popularity of social media, we can expect the coverage and the humiliation to continue.

What A Way To Find Out Your Loved One Is On Drugs

Imagine seeing your mom or dad, your brother or sister, your son or daughter or someone you know and love on the evening news, passed on, overdosed and possibly even dying right before your eyes. Imagine not knowing and finding out this way that your loved one is doing drugs. That is the case in some instances. Imagine seeing yourself this way.

The New York Times published a 3-part series on the opioid crisis called Hooked In America, in which it was stated that not only law enforcement but also “strangers with cameras have started posting raw, uncensored images of drug users passed out with needles in their arms and babies in the back seats of their cars The videos rack up millions of views and unleash avalanches of outrage.”

Public Shaming To Help End The Epidemic Is Questionable

Without question public humiliation has its effect on the addicted exposed on TV and/or social media. But, whether the effect is positive or not remains iffy. By filming the overdoses and sending them to the news media, police departments say they are simply trying to reveal the brutal reality of what they see every day.

According to the New York Times article, deputy director of policy and planning at the Harm Reduction Coalition, an advocacy group, Daniel Raymond says, “We’re showing you this video of them at the worst, most humiliating moment of their life. The intent is not to help these people. The intent is to use them as an object lesson by scapegoating them.”

The horrific images of addicts overdosed with their young children crying as their parents are passed on in retail stores or in the back of overheated cars may serve to prevent some people from every taking drugs of any kind. However, are these images serving to put an end to the opioid epidemic?

The answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT!

What this process does is fuel the stigma associated with this disease. It is the reason that only one in ten suffering from addiction seek help. The stigma and humiliation that these people feel only causes them to look for another escape and continue to use. A recent poll showed that almost 70% of our population blames the addicted for the problem. This is all wrong and only fuels the flames of stigma.

If 80% of heroin users started with a prescription medication, then you tell me who is to blame?

The people, for the most part have been duped by a system that was meant to protect us. Most people with view these videos and say, “Look at what the people are doing to themselves.” My dream with every fiber of my heart and soul is to have people see such videos and say, “Look at what we did to you all.”

The real question is, “how do we as a nation put an end to the desire to solve pain and problems with a pill?”

Prevention

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Even though he said that in 1736 when Philadelphia was burning, it is equally applicable to today’s opioid epidemic. How do we prevent doctors from prescribing opioids for pain relief? How do we impress upon those in pain that there are other, safer, healthier roads to pain-free living?